The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-09-14

lashed 10 the splendid button-wood tre'
with their "Copenhagen" rope. They
were huddled close together where the
main branches left the trunk; poor
babies in their little hats and coats, with
their tin dinner-pails on their arms.
Sarah loosened the end of the bench
from the branch, and it tilted down into
the water with splash.
The children, in their nervous terror,
screamed out. "Now we can't get back, "
they cried, and burst out in loud sobs.
"Hush," said Sarah, what are you
crying for2 "You don't want to get
back"
She held the littlest girl in her lap, and
tried to pacify her. She clung close to
her and trembled.
Il want to go homc," she kept muir
muring. II want my mamma"
Sarah, sitting there, saw birds nest
on the branch not far from her. The bird
1uttered down to it after while. Some
how that little frail nest and little help.
less bird in the button-wood tree encour-
aged Sarah. She kept her brave, patient
eyes fixed upon it.
"See the bird in the nest" she mo-
toned to the children, but they paid lit.
tie attention.
They were watch 'ng the school-house
with frightened eyes. They could see it
rock. "The school-house is moving,
teacher" they shrieked.
81 see it," said she. 'I wouldn't
wonder if it sailed off like boat"
Sarah had a terrible anxiety in her
heart. Suppose the house should float
this way-would it overthrow the trees
Would it shake them from the branchesa
Suppose it should topple over, and its
roof come crashing down upon thems
AS the house rocked more, she watched
it more steadily, as if her gaze could
avert the danger. If the house merely
fioated along in the current everything
would be we'll.
'It's going!" shrieked the children,
"the school-house is going"
The red school-house lurched their
way, righted herself, then sailed, bob
bing and wavering down the current.
The button-wood tree trembled little,
that was all; some of the branches had
been jostled.
The children watched the departing
school house with awe. "We would he
gone down over the falls, an been
drownded, if we'd stayed in it," said the
nine-year old refectively.
Sarah held Bessie close. Her heart
was full of thankfulness. before which
everything else paled. If these children
were saved to their parents, what did
anything else matter2
The rain had ceased, but they were
surrounded by thick mist, like wall.
They could not see a rod away. They
could only hear that awful roar of water
in the distance, and the soft lap of it
around the button-wood trunk. Sarah
talked to the children and tried to keep
up their courage. She made them eat
their dinners, but the time wore on
heavily. Would help never come!
It was four o'clock before Sarah heard
sound of voices, faint halloos in the
distance. "Children," she cried, 'they
are coming! Your fathers are coming
for you! Sing, sing quick, as loud as
you can, so they will know where you
are! Sing Lightly Row."
Sarah led off the little tune they had
sung so often in school. The children's
sweet, weak voices chimed in. Never
would music sound as sweet as that to
those anxious ones coming over the
flooded meadow in their boats. Guided
by it they rowed straight for the button
wood tree.
"Here they are, and all safe, thank
God!" said one, with great sob. He
was little Bessie's father.
Sarah watched them all taken down
into the boats. She would not 60 her
self until the last one was safe she even
helped unite the rope, but great faint
ness and dizziness was coming over her.
She realized family that they were
lifting her into boat, she saw Judge
Beaton's face, then she knew no more.
When she came to herself she was lying
on the bed in Florence Benton's pretty
room. which she remembered so we'll.
The doctor was there, and Mrs. Benton,
and Florence's beautiful face was bend
ing over her, with tears in the sweet eyes.
80" she cried, "she's better mamma,
she's better! o Sarah, you dear old
Sarah, 1 am so glad. Mamma, she's smi-
ling at me! o Sarah, III never treat you
so again."
1t was month later when Sarah came
home from Florence's one evening-she
had been there to tea. She entered the
room and stood smiling at her mother a
minute. Her eyes were shining, her cheeks
were almost as rosy as Florence's.
Mother" she said, 'I've got the Elliot
School. GOOD Cheer.